        Kim, Yong : Assignments11-26-2007Cudda, Wudda, Shudda: 5th Street The street is an innovation that has been developed throughout the course of history and has been deeply embedded within society without much appreciation for what it serves to be. Ever since the first appearance of the street in Khirokitia, Cyprus in 6,000 B.C. in the Neolithic Era, streets have been the epitome of communication within the community. The first street was constructed with limestone and was raised above ground level and connected the riverbank uphill to the other side of the hill making communication, travel, and transportation much more convenient and efficient. As the idea of the street became more prominent throughout the world, its purpose and proficiency grew to a level which made it a necessity to the functionality of a society. By better understanding the origins and evolution of the street throughout its history, it was easier for me to comprehend the different criteria necessary for what is considered a street in modern America. As I began to investigate 5th Street from Klaus to Biltmore within the framework of characteristics given, I was able to apply my knowledge of the street specifically to 5th Street and judge the success of 5th street as a real street. With the efforts of the Midtown Alliance, the Tech Square developers, the Department of Transportation, and the campus planners and architects of Georgia Tech, 5th Street is well on its way to becoming a real street. The level of success of the renovation of this street can be measured through implications made by the different dynamics that make up a real street. First and foremost obvious of these numerous characteristics of a street is its public space. Right off the bat, 5th Street has difficulty presenting itself as a public street just because it is part of Georgia Tech’s campus; which gives off the idea that it is most likely private or is mainly for Georgia Tech associates. 5th Street can be broken down into two separate components which divide most prominently at the I-85/75 bridge; the first being from Biltmore to the bridge and the second being from the bridge to Klaus Computing Building. The section that is successfully represented as a public space is from the bridge to Biltmore. This section of the street portrays the qualities that a public space should have. Benches and resting areas on either side of the street and sidewalk for the convenience of pedestrians, extra wide sidewalks for a larger number of people to walk, and cross walks and street lights to coordinate interactions between vehicles and pedestrians. Public parking lots across the street from Barnes and Noble at Georgia Tech give the sense that the area is not restricted to select people but to anyone and encourages longer visits to this part of Atlanta. Restaurants alongside the street all have outdoor eating sections for customers to better set the public mood. Also, this part of 5th Street is obviously a public space judging by the large directories located at the corner of the street to direct pedestrians to major buildings. Street lights planted repetitively alongside the street welcomes people at anytime of the day. In addition, a public space is strengthened with signs of community and unity. What better way to show a sense of community than holiday spirit. Christmas decorations are apparent all over this part of 5th Street which presents a very warm and welcoming feeling. The window displays in stores alongside the street display sales and other eye catchers which welcome window shoppers, encouraging people to travel slower on streets. Newspaper dispensers also give a sense of community; current event awareness is obviously encouraged for people on the street to share common knowledge about the community. The emergency posts that are located at random spots on the street and cameras at intersections express a feeling of safety which encourages a more public outlook. However, the other section of 5th Street falls behind as a successful public space. It lacks efficient public seating or resting areas, sidewalks resemble those of a neighborhood’s, and the presence of only fraternity buildings alongside the street presents a sense of privacy or exclusiveness. Also, parking alongside this part of 5th Street is prohibited, which hinders the feeling of publicity. The practical needs of a public space, such as access to adjacent property and passage through traffic, and the availability of public transportation through 5th Street seems to be the only constants that are apparent throughout the street as a whole. 5th Street would effectively present itself as a public area if the Klaus part of the street was made more like the other side of it. The invention of the automobile has been crucial to the development of streets in the world today. Instead of revolving around the pedestrians, the street now focuses on the convenience of automobiles and other vehicles. This primary consideration for automobiles incorporates the importance of pedestrians as well. Pedestrian cross walks and laws are placed for the safety of walkers, but they are primarily placed for the purpose of efficient traffic flow. With the addition of parking meters, cars are now able to park on the side of the street for a small fee according to how much time they spend there. This city street innovation has become renowned and helps the cause for a more efficient street in several ways. First off, parking meters allow for people who need to stop somewhere for only a few minutes pay accordingly rather than having to pay a full fee to park in a public parking area. Also, parking meters are included within the design of the street itself, making large public parking areas unnecessary. This helps with the lack of space within crowded cities such as Atlanta. The limited space available for use serves as an automatic prior framework that must be worked with for street and building designers. Because a city is designed and built upon a grid system for its framework, designers needed to figure out a way to maximize the efficiency of each space; 5th Street is a prime example of this. All the buildings located on 5th Street are raised up several stories high and serve as a multi functional building. With this strategy, more than one business or group can make use of each space. For example, The Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center share its bottom floor with independent businesses such as restaurants, nail salons, and clothes stores. This subdivision of territory is prevalent throughout cities all over the world. Furthermore, the location of I-85/75 becomes an automatic factor to take into consideration when developing the framework of 5th Street. The bridge that was built over the interstate serves as a natural separator for the old and new parts of the street. Traditional American cities are shaped by the subdivision of land into streets, blocks, and lots. Changes in the purposes of streets were addressed in model subdivision regulations crafted initially by the FHA (Federal Housing Administration) and later by the APA (American Planning Association). 5th Street portrays a modern subdivision design in that it doesn’t necessarily exist to maximize the accessibility between land uses, but to maximize the efficiency of land uses. Parking meters and multiple story buildings are both ways that 5th Street represents a modern subdivision design allowing for a new environment which holds new possibilities and potential for numerous social institutions. A street also serves as a social institution meaning that it works to socialize groups or people within it. This quality of a street is prevalent within 5th Street like the various academic institutions (Klaus Computing, Technology Square Research Building/ATDC, Barnes & Noble, Global Learning Center, Economic Development Building, Management Building), lodging facilities (Georgia Tech Hotel, Biltmore), eating and lounging areas (5th Street Ribs ‘n Blues, Starbucks Coffee, benches and grass fields) are all examples of hatcheries for this growth in social purpose. A street is based on politics, therefore it serves as a theater activated my human performance on various different levels. For example, on Saturday November 24th, the biggest game of the year, the Georgia Tech vs. University of Georgia football game took place in Atlanta. For this event, tailgaters were spread out all over campus; including locations on 5th Street such as on the I-85/75 Bridge. Social gatherings such as this strengthen the realness of a street and bring the community together as a whole to congregate for the same cause. Social involvement and participation within a street brings people together to utilize the street as a public space and a social institution. In order for a street to be successful on various different levels, it must be presentable. The physical and material characteristics are very important when developing a dimensional space such as a street. In this category, 5th Street is again divided at the bridge. The street within Tech Square embraces an urban environment with modern design buildings primarily constructed with bricks and steel. Large windows and mirrors are put in place to strengthen the urban look of this part of the street. The sidewalks are considerably larger and sanitation of the street itself seems to be taken care of on a higher level making the overall look much more appealing and welcoming. On the contrary, the other half of 5th Street still resembles the older designs and construct of buildings. Steel buildings such as Klaus are in place, but for the most part buildings are composed of bricks and wood. There is less street lighting and the street itself is an upward slope presenting itself a bit more unappealing. I believe this part of 5th street represents the palimpsest whereas Technology Square represents the projection of the street. In order to mold a street into its desired future, there must either be deconstruction, renovation, construction, or some type of change. 5th Street has two construction projects going on; one right next to the Klaus Computing Building and the other at the very end of the street right before Biltmore. These construction sites are evidence of attempts at improvement in one or many of the criteria that formulates a real street. The level of success towards the goal of creating a real street that these new productions are trying to achieve can only be fully determined after its completion and an ample amount of time and interaction with society has been allowed. 5th Street could have been designed primarily for Georgia Tech students and interacted only with associates of the school; but instead consists of numerous outside businesses and organizations which welcomes a diversity of interaction. With the environment that 5th Street has to offer, students at Georgia Tech can experience new interactions to better understand and embrace the growth of human relations on a different scale. This idea of not limiting or enclosing students to just the school’s network has been expanding and more prevalent throughout this and other institutions. 5th street would have been more successful as a public space if a large portion of the street itself had not already been designed and constructed. Starting design and construction of a street from scratch would increase potential by infinite amounts in comparison to having to renovate or deconstruct to achieve a vision to transform an old street into a modern one. Also, 5th Street would have much more appreciation as a real street if it was more known or even reachable to those who are unaware of it. A more direct route to and from the interstate would allow for easier and more access to the street; increasing activity on the street would definitely strengthen its success. 5th Street could have ended up like the rest of campus; just another part of the educational and research institution that is the Georgia Institute of Technology. If the street only allowed associates of Georgia Tech to interact with the different businesses there, the whole idea of a real street would be destroyed and efforts to transforming 5th into a real one would be pointless. Nevertheless, 5th Street is well on its way to becoming a real street. If the dividing factor of this street was somehow mended and the street could be judged as a whole, it would be much more competent to be critically articulated as a real street. Increasing interactions with businesses would augment reasons why people would end up interacting with 5th Street. By escalating the number of people who directly associate with the street’s businesses and interact on a routine basis, the street’s success would expand to greater levels with no doubt. In addition, 5th Street would need a considerable increase in parking spaces for this swelling of new interactions and relationships. These are just a few of the major factors that hinder 5th Street from reaching its goal of becoming real; but this is not to say that it is not doing good as it is now. The functionality and efficiency of this street is tremendous and continues to grow within itself. Although there will need to be further efforts put into this project, I do not doubt that 5th Street will become what it is projected to become. Assignment 6 10-15-07 Building Construction Dr. Kangari stressed the importance of understanding the process of building construction. He started off with the basic steps of BC. 1) The first major step is urban planning and regulatory agencies: local and national government regulators. 2) The next being the owner, the person who finances the project such as investors, clients, and groups. 3) The third step is the development which is how we put together the finance, partnership, and cooperation. They are developers, investors, and deal-makers. 4) The design includes the architects and the engineers. 5) Step five is building. The general contractor, builder, construction management decide the time and what materials used have impacts. 6) The final step includes the facility manager, property manager, and facility operator for operation. A lack of communication ends up with losses such as the China Olympic Construction. He then went into the life cycle of a project and stake holders. He explained the New trend: Integrated A/E/C Projects with arictect, engineer, and contractor. Look Up: 1) Stake holders- a party who affects, or can be affected by, the company's actions such as the owner, designer, engineer, general contractor, and sub-contractors. 2) China Olympic Construction- The main event of the 2008 Summer Olympics will be the Beijing National Stadium. Construction of the venue began on December 24, 2003. 3) Specification and Plans- sketches that show a building's design and specifications with notes to provide an even better understanding. Speculation: 1) How important is it being economically and materialistically efficient in building construction today? 2) What is the best method for constructing fast and cheap? 3) What are some of the advantages of doing intern before pursuing work? 10-10-07 Architecture Ellen Durham Jones introduced the idea of building with multiple centers, nested hierarchies, and individualism with unity and explained how we must use both sides of our brian. She helped us to figure out how to distinguish between an ordinary building from an extraordinary building. Architects must design aesthetically pleasing and functional spaces. Look Up: 1) Median Annual Earning- Median annual earning is the number representing the salary most people in a certain demographic earn. 2) Ecological Literacy- Ecological literacy is the ability to build communities that do not interfere with nature’s ability to sustain life. Architects are challenged to build structures in nature that do not interfere with nature, thus following the understanding of ecological literacy. 3) Urban Design- concerns the arrangement, appearance and functionality of towns and cities, and in particular the shaping and uses of urban public space. I didn’t know that architects branched out into this field. Speculation: 1) How much power does the client's desire have over the architect's vision for his design? 2) How does architecture define our culture in relation to public spaces? 3) What all specializations does it take to be a solo architect? 10-22-07 Industrial Design Abir Mullick defined Industrial Design as a professional service of creating and developing concepts and specifications that optimize the function, value, and appearence of products and systems for the mutual benefit of both user and manufacturer. He then defined the word design as itself as a creative activity whose aim to establish the multifaceted qualities of objects, processes, and services and their systems in whole life-cycles. Therefore, design is the central factor of innovative humanization of technologies. Philosophies of ID include: problem solving, process driven, creativity, people centered, manufacture, enviornmental, and community. The basic ID process is problem definition, research, conceptualization, design, deliver. Look Up: 1) Product Design- design of manufactured things that adds value, increases usability, and simplifies life through improved human-product interation. 2) Humanization- the usability and user-friendly component of design, increasing function, the ability to operate, and the appearance of the design. 3) Environmental- Deals with the improvement of designs to not only be human friendly but also environmental friendly and protect the resources. Speculation: 1) Do engineers and industrial designers interact often when their design deals with mechanics? 2) How can people be taught how to create new ideas and be creative? 3) About how many industrial designers are in the field today? Assignment 5 10-15-07 Dr. Roozbeh Kangari Dr. Kangari stressed the importance of understanding the process of building construction. He started off with the basic steps of BC. 1) The first major step is urban planning and regulatory agencies: local and national government regulators. 2) The next being the owner, the person who finances the project such as investors, clients, and groups. 3) The third step is the development which is how we put together the finance, partnership, and cooperation. They are developers, investors, and deal-makers. 4) The design includes the architects and the engineers. 5) Step five is building. The general contractor, builder, construction management decide the time and what materials used have impacts. 6) The final step includes the facility manager, property manager, and facility operator for operation. A lack of communication ends up with losses such as the China Olympic Construction. He then went into the life cycle of a project and stake holders. He explained the New trend: Integrated A/E/C Projects with arictect, engineer, and contractor. Look Up: Stake holders- a party who affects, or can be affected by, the company's actions such as the owner, designer, engineer, general contractor, and sub-contractors. China Olympic Construction- The main event of the 2008 Summer Olympics will be the Beijing National Stadium. Construction of the venue began on December 24, 2003. Specification and Plans- sketches that show a building's design and specifications with notes to provide an even better understanding. Speculation: The understanding of process is the main key of building construction. These six steps are only the basic skeletal outline of the intricate web that is BC. Communication within this web is crucial to BC's success. 10-10-07 Ellen Durham-Jones Ellen Durham Jones introduced the idea of building with multiple centers, nested hierarchies, and individualism with unity and explained how we must use both sides of our brian. Architects must design aesthetically pleasing and functional spaces. Look Up: Ecological – Relating organisms with their environment. Median Annual Earning: Median annual earning is the number representing the salary most people in a certain demographic earn. Assignment 4 Lecture 09-17-07: Architecture, Culture, and Behavior Dr. Craig Zimring posed the question of how architecture and design affects people mentally and physically. He introduced the idea that designs at different scales, city, site, building, and object, affect individuals and groups. Also how these people affect the design of the project itself. One way that design affects people is their physical activity and health. Dr. Zimring had numerous slides depicting statistics regarding obesity in America from 1990 to 2001. He then moved on to how obesity and physical inactivity can affect depression, cancer risk, and diabetes. After pointing out the problems in our country, Dr. Zimring began providing solutions to these problems. At least 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity on most days of the week would decrease unnecessary deaths in America by 200,000 a year. He continues to stress how little changes in daily activity would have a huge impact on a person’s overall health. Different types of physical activities include intentional, incidental, and hybrid. Building design affects physical activity in many ways. The layout and configuration of the structure, activity programmed areas, and activity inducing areas. An effective layout impacts walking behavior to maximize activities. Activity areas in central and visible areas promote use. Attractors motivate pedestrian movement. Examples of environmental factors that play into voluntary use predictors include comfort, safety, aesthetic, availability, convenience, and legibility. He continues to provide statistics to strengthen his presentation and support his argument. Look Up: 1) Space Syntax – an evidence based approach to the planning and design of buildings and cities. Dr. Zimring used this term when presenting the idea of three zones in hospitals for family, patient, and caregiver. 2) Voluntary Use Predictors – Predictions, using factors based on research, on why a structure, pathway, or objects are used as opposed to another. Dr. Zimring utilized this term to express stair use versus elevator use. 3) Analgesics - any drug used to soothe or relieve pain. The use of analgesics would reduce by 22% if natural light exposure increased. Speculate: 1) What are people with this knowledge doing to spread the awareness of physical inactivity in America and how easily it can be improved? 2) Is the improving health taken into consideration as much as using space efficiently when it comes to designing? 3) Are there any renovations going on in designs to help people be a little more physical in their everyday lives? 4) Was this lecture more towards helping students be more aware of physical inactiveness in America or to take into consideration these ideas when designing? Lecture 09-19-07: Photography Ruth Dusseault is a utopian architect specializing in building modernistic designs from scratch. This modernist approach to design involves building a completely new structure with no pre-existing features or memories. She focused primarily on the Atlantic Station project. With photography and some video documentation, Dusseault showed a step by step process of the demolition of the steel mill all the way to the construction and final product of the Atlantic Station. Look Up: 1) Utopian architecture - architecture that arises from a non-existentialist vision that posits an idealized frame of reference and its derivative logic structures. Ruth was inspired and motivated by utopian architects in her Atlantic Station project. 2) Modernism – the idea of escaping the tyranny of previous historical styles. Dusseault viewed this idea as sweeping away the existing world and building something perceived to be better. 3) Industrialism - an economic organization of society built largely on mechanized industry rather than agriculture, craftsmanship, or commerce. Utopian architects are fully embedded in the idea of industrialism and its movement against the past ideas. Speculation: 1) Did you plan on making this project have educational value? 2) Were you directly involved in the construction of this project or just the design? Or both? 3) What is your next utopian project? 4) Does photographing the building process step by step help the designer in anyway as they are working on it or is it just for future references? Lecture 09-26-07: Palladio Sonit Bafna introduced Palladio, considered the most influential designer in western architecture. Bafna presented what made Palladio so influential and what he was famous for. He showed many of Palladio’s work and analyzed each with important terms and concepts. He also showed some examples of Palladio’s influence on modern day architecture and design. Some key terms were visual engagement, music theory, and base-middle-top plan. Look Up: 1) Visual Engagement – visually realizing the aesthetic beauty of a structure such as symmetry, columns, and other things that provides the extravagance of the structure. Many of Palladio’s designs proved to have visual engagement; his intricate designs allows for the viewer to look around and always have something to be awed about. 2) Music Theory - distills and analyzes the elements of music – rhythm, harmony, melody, structure, and texture. Palladio’s distinction between the acoustics of each room provides ideas from the music theory. 3) Base-Middle-Top Plan – having the base of a structure, a large middle section, and a small top section coincide with one another to form the final product. Each section has its purpose for where it is and is designed specifically to do what they do. Speculation: 1) What components of Palladio’s ideas are used in modern architecture most often? 2) Are there any modern architects today who can be considered to be as influential to Western Architecture as Palladio was? 3) What values do designers gain from studying Palladio’s work and influence? 4) How should students use information learned about classical architects towards their own progress in design? Assignment 3 09-10-07 Lecture Summary: Dr. Steven Sprigle from the Center for Assistive Technology and Environmental Access focused his lecture on a multi-disciplinary approach to disability research. His lecture was organized in a fashion where he defined key terms first, then gave prime examples and elaborated on each section. He expressed the importance of disability consideration when designing new structures anywhere in the U.S. today. Dr. Sprigle taught in a way people without disabilities can understand the gist of what it would be like to be in a wheel chair for example. He described different types of assistive technology and their pros and cons. Some AT have a universal design appeal whereas some are specialized AT. Examples of specialized AT would be hearing aids, power wheel chairs, artificial limbs, and etc. He continued to stress the level of severeness that disabilities prove to have with statistics in the United States. Approximately 50 million Americans have some kind of disability. Employment in 2005, the gap between the employment rates of the working age people with and without disabilities was 40.3% of Americans. The Center for Assistive Technology and Environmental Access focuses on research and outreach. CATEA staffing includes, Engineering, Architecture, Educational Technology, Web Design and Programming, Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy, and Industrial Design; this shows the broad scale of skills used in this department. Look Up: 1) The word disability is usually not formally defined because people usually assume they know what it means. I, like most people, thought disability meant a physical or mental impairment that gets special treatment and is noticeable. I learned that a disability isn't necessarily noticeable. Disability- a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of an individual. 2) The word assistive technology sort of defines itself. My thought of the definition was pretty much on the ball. Assistive Technology- any item, piece of equipment, or product system that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities (Technology Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act of 1988). 3) I derived the definition of this word using my knowledge on root words and Latin. Anthro has to do with the human body and pometry has to do with math or measurements. Anthropometry- the measurement of living human individuals for the purposes of understanding human physical variation. Speculate: 1) What is this lecture's specific goal into teaching? Is it to increase awareness of disabilities in the United States or is it to increase participation in this field? 2) How do architects play a role in this field other than the design of buildings for the convenience of people with disabilities? 3) How many people are directly involved in the CATEA? 4) What is CATEA's relationship with Georgia Tech? 09-12-07 Lecture Summary: Brian Bowen presented his lecture about the construction industry starting off with the history of construction from the classical era. He touched on different areas of expertise in this industry such as customer expectations, characteristics of the industry, and integrations of professions. He backed up his statements using statistics such as charts and graphs. The construction industry, being the second largest economic sector in the United States, is becoming a more integrated industry. Some terms used in this lecture are partnering, Lean Construction, Turnkey, PPP, the Work Continuum, Alliance contracting, and risk management. Look Up: 1) I had no idea what lean construction meant until I researched it. It is considered a scientific revolution in the eyes of Thomas Kuhn in 1970. It is a way to design and construct while minimizing the waste of materials, time, and effort. Lean Construction- the holistic pursuit of concurrent and continuous improvements in all dimensions of the built and natural environment: design, construction, activation, maintenance, salvaging, and recycling. 2) My guess on what turnkey meant was that it was a turning point in a construction project that plays a major difference in the project. Turnkey- a project in which separate entities are responsible for setting up a plant or equipment and for putting it into operation. 3) I assumed that by putting together the two words risk and management, it was easy to conclude that it had something to do with taking into major consideration in an activity that involves great risk to keep it under control. Risk Management- to lessen the risk of something by making the keeping the level of danger under control. Speculate: 1) How is the construction industry specifically growing in the United States today even though it is already a huge economic field? 2) Do you believe that lean construction is used to its maximum potential in the construction industry today? 3) Is risk management improving significantly throughout the years? 4) What was the latest project you worked on and how is it significant to the movement of this field? 09-14-07 Lecture Summary: Dr. Steven P. French from the FAICP is a Professor of City and Regional Planning and the Director of the Center for Geographic Information Systems. He started out introducing the basics for the Center for Geographic Information Systems. It is one of six research centers in the College of Architecture. He introduced converging technologies like GIS, Remote Sensing, GPS, Wireless Internet and etc. He expressed how these technologies can be used in urban planning: Inventory Existing Conditions, Project Future Conditions, Analyze Development Consequences, Visualize Alternative Solutions, Remote sensing, low cost data acquisition, new sensors - thermal, IR, lidar, can combine with GIS data. Visualize Development Alternatives helps public understand projects, facilitates negotiation, and increases acceptance. Look Up: 1) I knew GIS had something to do with maps and digital topography in order to collect data. Geographic Information System (GIS)- is a system for capturing, storing, analyzing and managing data and associated attributes which are spatially referenced to the earth. 2) The acronym GPS is heard often these days; coming in cars and handheld devices. I knew that a GPS system is a navigation system using satellites but I didn't know anything more. Global Positioning System (GPS)- a satellite-based navigation system made up of a network of 24 satellites placed into orbit by the U.S. Department of Defense. 3) First hearing this term, I guessed that it had something to do with surfaces shown digitally using GIS. Impervious Surface- artificial structures, such as pavements and building roofs, which replace naturally pervious soil with impervious construction materials. Speculate: 1) Other than construction, how is GIS used in a significant way? 2) How can we get involved with GIS technology and education? 3) In what areas do these technologies need improvement? And are these improvements being worked on? 4) Is GIS used on a smaller scale for local architecture and such? Assignment 2 Classical Design and Architecture Summary: Today the lecturers discussed Classical Design and old world architecture. They explained how ancient Greece, Italy, and England architecture and design affected modern day. Research on past classical and traditional design helps designers, such as the speakers today; restore old buildings such as high end residential houses, hotels, apartments, offices, and other city developments. Look up: Beaux-Arts architecture - Classical architecture that was taught in Paris in École des Beaux Arts. This style is known for its symmetry, grand entrances and staircases, sculptures, and large use of colors. Urban Design - Concerns utilizing public space to an efficient level for functionality, appearance, and arrangement. Speculation: Pedagogical- How do you present classical ideas and designs and express the importance in present day without turning it into a history lesson; refraining from making the lesson seem irrelevant from students’ studies? Disciplinary- What techniques do you use to get students used to directly implementing classical designs into their work? Professional- What factors come into play when considering starting projects based off of classical design and architecture? Solar Decathlon Summary: A representative from the Georgia Tech team from the Solar Decathlon competition provided the lecture today. He started off by introducing the competition and explaining its goals, rules, and process. The Solar Decathlon is an international competition held in Washington D.C. He then showed us a skeletal outline process of what their team needs to mainly focus on. With photos, CAD productions and blueprints, he broke down the house into each criterion that each team focused on. Look up: Structural Insulating Panel (SIP) - panels made from a thick layer of polystyrene or polyurethane foam in-between two layer of plywood or oriented strand board. It provides insulation and structural framing. Gray water – Any water that is used at home excluding toilet water. The use of gray water proves more efficient ergonomically. Speculation: Pedagogical- Don’t you think the presentation would have been stronger if more people working on this project to represent other departments of production presented their views and experiences? Disciplinary- How successful do you think your project will be on an ergonomic level? Professional- When do you think houses such as this would be more widely available to the general public? Digital Design and Fabrication Summary: The speaker introduced digital design and fabrication. He posed questions regarding the future of architecture and how and why it would be affected with digital design. He discussed the purpose of Advanced Wood Products Lab and the way computer numeric controlled (CNC) equipment is affecting the design and building process today. Look up: CNC – a mechanical device used to fabricate metal components by the selective removal of metal. Polar Array - distributing items around a single point. Speculation: Pedagogical- If a student was to be interested in this field, what extensive education would he need in order to be efficient in the field? Disciplinary- When will this new technology fully take affect in the world of design and construction? Professional- What are some technical flaws, if any, to this technology that are trying to be worked out? Assignment 1 Two Installation Observation and Speculation: The long piece installation that is outside the atrium is constructed using large sheets of plastic. Each piece is connected using bolts and screws. There are braille-like markings at each end of every piece; most likely used to identify each piece and its location in the model. Spots where two plastic pieces meet to form a right angle are connected with bolts by bending an extra piece of the plastic by scoring one side of it. At the bottom end of the figure, all their plastic layers start off compressed on top of one another uniformly; making this spot a solid foundation for the figure. As the slope of the model increases, the layers begin to spread apart. As the plastic gets higher, the layers start to spread apart and a turning and slight twisting in the direction occurs. As the figure wraps half way around the column of the building, the pieces immediately deviate from their uniform motion into random and independent twisting, swerving, and turning motions. Symmetry is no where to be found in this figure. From the side view, it is obvious the plastic is bend and constructed with one another to form a wavy motion. As the pieces approach the top of the first floor, they slowly being to come back together in layers; one on top of another, sort of like how the structure started. In proportion to the building itself, the structure is large enough to even be don't considered as part of the building. It is no doubt large enough to play a significant role in the identification of the building. In comparison to a person, this structure is enormous. It would easily accommodate about fifty people to sit on (if the installation's purpose was for a physical use that is). For the main part, the installment is translucent due to the plastic it is constructed of. It isn't perfectly see through when one tried to look through the structure, but still enough to see what lies behind the figure. When I tapped on the figure with my knuckle, it was obvious that the plastic was hard, but it made a hollow noise due to the way the parts were put together. The structure was neither hot nor cold; about room temperature. This is probably because a very little amount of sunlight is absorbed due to the transparency of the material. The texture is very smooth, except where dirt has compiled due to weather and time. Given the incredibly crazy design of this installation, I'd guess that the motivation for it was probably also complicating. The easy and layered beginning of the design can be seen as the beginning of life. As life progresses and gets more and more complicating and unexpected, so does the design. The purpose of life is to move up, as does the structure. It builds its way up, having many factors paths that take affect in one's life. As life reaches its end, things begin to slow down and one begins to collect one's self like the top of the installation shows. My interpretation may be right, but probably isn't. But I make it out to be that way. When it comes to the process of design and construction of this installation, I immediately recognize that it was an extremely time consuming process. Due to its extreme 3-dimensional design, computer design programs were obviously utilized. Putting this on a 2-dimensional sheet had to be even more challenging. Finally putting their ideas and designs into an actual physical structure probably consisted of continuous referrals to the computer graphic designs. If I were to name this installation, I'd name it "Life Line". The three-storey installation in the atrium is constructed of long pieces of ply wood. The parallel structure of these pieces were connected using screws, bolts, hinges, bars, and staples. The bars go through multiple pieces to connect them and keep them from spreading. These bars are attached to large steel foundations that are clamped on the edge of the concrete ledges. Each piece of wood is labeled with letters and numbers to identify the order and placement of the strips. The edges of each piece of wood is obviously sanded down but only to a certain degree where it doesn't cause splinters when touched, but still has a somewhat jagged edge. Each piece of ply wood is cut to a width of about 4" and is cut out to create a smooth curvy look. The only straight pieces are at the top and near the bottom. The view from the front at any given angle gives the installation a water fall look. Throughout most of the figure, the pieces run parallel with one another, but about three quarters of the way down, slight adjustments to the separations were made using smaller pieces of wood. These spaces still have a curving turn to them and they return to its normal parallel structure. From behind, it looks like a stagnant wooden curtain that is translucent through the seeps between each piece. This design works with its surrounding extremely well. Mainly because the bottom of the structure is constructed into a bench-like seats. The sunlight encounters the structure from many angles from different windows. The figure feels translucent because light goes through it. The way it interacts with its environment makes it phenomenological. When the light comes in from an angle, the figure looks more solid because less light goes through it. The figure itself is very solid due to all the ways it is bolted down. The wood is very hard and feels very steady, but the structure of the figure gives it a flimsy, fragile look; making this installation intriguing. First off, this installation was my favorite. I immediately appreciated the idea of a dual purpose installation. The first being its decorative contribution to the atrium; it adds an architectural designer's taste to the building. The second purpose has a functional attribute to the atrium as a whole. Because the atrium serves as such a large learning and socializing area for architecture students, I believe the designers were motivated to create a structure that could be used for leisure while still providing an awing view for any spectator. This design was more than impressive in that just trying to conceive how they created it was mind boggling. First off, 2-dimensional drawings had to be made from every angle. Computer graphic designs also had to be a factor due to its complexity in form. Physical models that were scaled down for detail were probably also created. When it comes to actually creating the final piece, I would imagine the hard ware supplies needed included sophisticated power tools. These were probably just the basic skeletal steps included in an extremely intricate design. The overall wavy look of the project portrays a waterfall look in my eyes. If I named this installation, I think I would've named it "A Hard Fall". Link to this Page
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